He is known for eccentric ensembles that combine haute couture with charity-shop finds, yards of vintage fabrics and tartans, found objects, ribbons, feathers, chain mail, shells, ethnic jewelry, retro accessories and millinery.

The former Cardinal Newman schoolboy said: “I always had a vision of how I wanted to be but I never knew how possible it would be. I think living in a small village you want to branch out. I grew up in the middle of Fillongley – a small village in the middle of nowhere.

“It’s important to express yourself, a lot of people all round the world live so differently.

“Growing up in Coventry I did have a really bad time. It’s important people accept each other and accept themselves.

“You can be anybody you want to be as long as you work hard enough.”

For his first major publication, Lismore shares the 32 ensembles that comprised his first US museum exhibition, “Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken”.